Stop! Hammertime...Too Much Hits

Kuz not alone with sore throat after Achiever choke job

 

SANTA CLARA, 6/8/08: With expected absences of several key members from both sides (Alvin Trinh, Stoph Andraesen and B-Rid of the Achievers; Brian Simas, Kevin Holley, Tim Pyle and later Kevin Kuzmiak of Hammer of the Gods), for much of this week the status of Game 5 was uncertain. Was it gonna be on June 8, or would it be put off until both squads could put together full rosters?

 

As it turned out, the historic contest would be played on schedule.

Too bad nobody informed the Achiever offense...

 

 

GAME 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F
H.O.T.G. 0 2 0 6 4 0 0 1 3 16
ACHIEVERS 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 1 9
 
HAMMER OF THE GODS LEBOWSKI'S LITTLE URBAN ACHIEVERS

John Cocoles

Cav Manning

Torance Matsui

Dave Del Real

Ruben Gonzalez

Kevin Kuzmiak

Rob Flores

 

 

Leland Yow

Bryan Bush

Norberto Yanez

Greg Lynas

Skillz Davis

Dave Wagner

Greg Sacramento

Greg Minor

Tito Bernal

Joel Stauffer

 

Hammer of the Gods win series 3-2

 

JOHN'S PRAYERS ANSWERED

Facing an already-depleted squad before learning star hitter Kuzmiak would be absent with a throat infection, Cocoles was presently surprised when he arrived to see a vocally restrained Kuz in the flesh, ready for action! The surprise proved critical, as it gave HOTG the catcher which under normal circumstances would have kept the Achievers from running wild on the bases. Unfortunately for Wagner's squad, they did that all on their own.

In the early going, it was anybody's game. An RBI groundout by Achiever Lynas started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st. Kuzmiak belted a 2-run homer the next inning for HOTG, who had a chance for more until Del Real lined to 3rd, stranding two runners. In the bottom of the 2nd, the other Dave, Wagner, would kill a rally for HIS squad when he made an ill-advised dash from 2nd to 3rd on a Sacramento groundout; the Achiever captain was easily erased.

After holding HOTG scoreless in the 3rd, the Acheivers went to work again, loading the bags with 1 out. However, Davis lined out to CF and 3B Cocoles had his 2nd prayer of the day answered when Wagner (after being given a 2nd chance when BS Gonzalez dropped his foul pop) grounded one to him. Johnny 5 bobbled it---STRAIGHT INTO THE AIR---and secured it with his foot firmly on 3rd base to force out Bush. It was agreed if they tried 100 reenactments, such a lucky bounce could never be duplicated. In the end, HOTG still led 2-1 after 3 innings.

In the 4th, Cocoles' squad busted out for 6 scores, 4 of them after a mistake by 1B Stauffer (playing for the first time since Game 1 of the series). With two down, Kuzmiak poked another 2-run homer to start the rally. Flores then grounded one to SS Bush that took a savage hop, but Bush stayed with it and gunned Flores out...except Stauffer dropped the shin-level throw. Successive knocks by Cocoles and Manning produced the third run of the frame, and Matsui creamed one out of Goodson with two on to exact maximum punishment for the defensive mistake.

Now down 8-1, the Achievers again threatened to score in the 4th, but for the 2nd straight week Minor lined into a double play. This one wasn't as clear cut as last week's, as 3B Cocoles' snag of the toe-level seed was not found by all to be actually caught. But with no clear proof that he DIDN'T catch it, there was no serious argument, and Sacramento was doubled off 1st to end the inning.

In the 5th, Kuzmiak and Matsui each clocked 2-run bombs to up the HOTG lead to 12-1.

After three straight innings of bad luck and no runs, Achievers finally broke through with a pair, including a Yow triple to CF that appeared to fool the usually sure-handed Del Real. They even got a little luck when Yow rounded third too far, but C Kuzmiak fumbled the throw before he could be tagged out. Eventually the team would load the bases yet again, with zero out, but Davis, Wagner and Sacramento were all retired in order (although in Davis' defense, he didn't get a strike to hit). Up to that point the team had been fully confident of a comeback, but the wasted opportunity took all the wind from their sails.

For the rest of the game, Hammer of the Gods managed their sizable lead of 12-3. Davis' RBI single in the 7th and a 4-run 8th helped narrow the gap to 13-8 and kept the Achievers' hearts beating. However, they ultimately fell 16-9. It was a very disappointing way to close what had been a very competitive series in spite of HOTG's advantage on paper. While there is no doubt that HOTG, Cocoles in particular, got major breaks in this game, they still had to make plays and take advantage of opportunities given them (such as scoring 6 after the drop at 1B and throwing out Wagner in the 2nd).

The Achievers got two huge gifts when Gonzalez dropped Wagner's foul pop, and Kuzmiak fumbled a throw home that would have surely retired Yow in a pickle. Yet they took full advantage of neither, and that is why they came up short. It didn't help that Kuzmiak climbed out of bed long enough to crack 3 homers and drive in 6 runs for HOTG.

 "Did you use the pitching wedge?" -- Sacramento, to Yow, after Yow doubled on an ankle-high pitch in the 2nd.

AWARDS AND HIGHLIGHTS

 

Kuzmiak and Matsui combined for 12 RBI and were easy choices for BAD ASS of the Day. Cocoles, rather than single out his deserving self, instead awarded his whole team Gold Gloves even though only SS Manning was the only other player who even arguably played his best in the field. No Small Penis was named, although Davis and Del Real had to both bust oh-fers with late-inning hits. In fact, Del Real finished just 1-for-7 despite hitting the ball hard more than once.

The Achievers had only 5 XBH to HOTG's 13.

MORE NOTES:
  • After tripling in the 8th, Gonzalez was issued a warning by his skipper to not get doubled off. Kuzmiak lined one to Lynas who snagged it and doubled off Gonzalez. Cocoles' response? "You shoulda stayed at 2nd. You'd still be there."
  • Davis, who struggled for the 2nd straight series, went to his captain before the game and asked to be raised in the order...but could only muster one hit in 5 tries including 0-for-2 with the bases loaded. He said his pulled side muscle from last week was about only 70% but didn't use it as an excuse. "I got one hit with it, so I should have gotten at least 3."
  • Cocoles was extra proud of his LF foul line layout, so much so he actually called players' attention to it. Not expecting Stauffer to show after a long absence, BAB only set 4 of the fences, but Joel did not hit one anywhere near where the RF fence would have been.
  • More bad Achiever luck: P Lynas was forced to deflect what would have been a run-scoring hit up the middle.
  • There was no sign of the troublesome cricket players this week, only a half-dozen soccer guys practicing in shallow left field who quickly vamoosed once BAB began to filter in. Ironically, after a week of predicting severe shorthandedness for HOTG, they fielded their whole team of seven before the Achievers even had six.
  • As he hinted towards earlier in the week, Ed DaRosa made an appearance midway through the game as a spectator chilling out with both dugouts.
  • Kuzmiak, as mentioned, had announced less than 24 hours prior to gametime that he'd regrettably miss the game, as he and his wife had a cruise coming up and he needn't risk affecting his recovery from a throat infection. However, he had a late change of heart, and made a clandestine voyage to Goodson Field. Kuz caught the entire game and was pinch-run for on his two inside-the-park hits, helping preserve his strength.
  • Yow played the game in a "Manning 13" Mets jersey after losing the annual Mets vs. Giants bet.
  • In addition to those mentioned above, HOTG was minus Soonam Chowdhury, Tim Pyle, and Brandon Hamilton. Achievers fielded all but the three mentioned above.

Minor, Cocoles, Del Real and Bush (flying to San Diego Sunday night) departed, but thanks in part to Davis all but begging Sacramento and Wagner to stay, BAB had enough men for a doubleheader.

 

GAME 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 F
UP IN SMOKE 3 0 1 0 0 7 0 11
THE RETURN 2 0 4 1 0 1 4 12
 
UP IN SMOKE THE RETURN

Dave Wagner

Norberto Yanez

Torance Matsui

Ruben Gonzalez

              Joel Stauffer -- Captain

Rob Flores

Skillz Davis

 

Leland Yow

Greg Sacramento

Greg Lynas

Cav Manning

Tito Bernal

                  Ed DaRosa -- Captain

Soonam Chowdhury
 

DaRosa decided to test out his broken finger and now-95% healed side in this exhibition, protecting his hand by playing 1B with a righty mitt as he did in 2006. Smoke started the scoring with 3 in the 1st, answered by Return on Manning's two-run homer. A potential Smoke rally died in the 2nd as Yanez lined into a double play.

In the bottom of the 3rd Return struck for 4, including RBI hits by Lynas and DaRosa and a 2-run single by Manning who was retired in an inning-ending pickle by Yanez and Stauffer. But his club still led 6-4.

Fast-forward to inning #6 when Staufer's club busted out for 7 scores, including RBI doubles by Matsui and Gonzalez (made possible by Lynas' error). Bernal got one back with an RBI single in the bottom half, but Return still trailed 11-8 at this point and carried zero momentum. That all changed once they retired Smoke 1-2-3 in the 7th.

Sacramento started the Return 7th with a single. Lynas and Manning were both quickly retired to seemingly squelch the rally, but Bernal poked a single to left-center. Up came DaRosa, whose swings were looking better as the game went on. He saved his best for what would be his last AB, drilling one up the gap that rolled all the way to the fence! As the runners chugged, Return got a huge break when the ball did NOT roll under the fence---allowing all three men to score and tie the game at 11!!! Ed reclaimed a share of the #1 spot on BAB's all-time ITPHR list with Matsui, and few if any have come in bigger situations.

It didn't stop there. Yow, sitting on an 0-for-6, finally got off the schnide with a solid whack to left. Sacramento and Lynas replicated the feat, and Manning drilled the walk-off single to send a VERY dejected Up In Smoke squad...uh, up in smoke.

 "Next time I'm captain, I'm not giving out ANY awards...they've lost all meaning." -- Lynas, after finding out that the entire Hammer of the Gods roster got Gold Gloves and he, who played an exceptional 3rd, was denied.

AWARDS AND HIGHLIGHTS

 

DaRosa named himself and Manning BAD ASSes of the Day for their clutch hits; the pair teamed for 10 of the 12 Return RBI. Yow played a clean left, including a fine sliding catch to earn Gold Glove. No Small Penis was named, as Yow barely dodged the oh-fer.

Matsui was 5-for-5 with 4 runs, while Stauffer recorded 3 RBI to boost Up in Smoke's cause. Yanez was only 1-for-6 and Flores 1-for-5, however.

 

MORE NOTES:

 

  • Several K's in Game 2 including a Gonzalez PLK in the 2nd (his 5th pitch was in the dirt) and conventional K's by Lynas and Bernal in the 4th and 5th, respectively.
  • Both Manning and Yow played their 199th career games.
  • Chowdhury never actually made it to this game, although he was thought to be en route following a quick airport dropoff of a relative. The early innings were spent trying to reach him, as he was Lynas' ride home.
  • Another IronMan fell, as Kuzmiak missed his first game of 2008 leaving Matsui and Gonzalez as the only two remaining.
  • The wind began to, for the umpteenth time in '08, blow in and kept drives from Gonzalez and Flores from sailing over the fence. Manning was the only man who could penetrate it. JD

 

 

* Players of the Week *

BAD ASS of the Day

 

Torance Matsui, HOTG (1)

5-for-7, 2 HR, 6 RBI

 

Kevin Kuzmiak, HOTG (1)

5-for-7, 3 HR, 6 RBI

 

Cav Manning, Return (2)

6-for-7, HR, 6 RBI, walkoff single

 

Ed DaRosa, Return (2)

Clutch 3-run ITPHR

 

 

 

 

GOLD GLOVE

 

 

Hammer of the Gods (1)

 

Leland Yow, Return (2)

Played top LF

 

 

 

 SMALL PENIS

 

 

* none (1/2) *